Chad Edward Ellis, pleaded guilty
to killing a 1-year old Labrador-mix on January 4th by placing
it in a washing machine filled with hot water. Ellis turned
the machine on with the dog inside because he was angry. The dog, which apparently
was a stray, had to be euthanized a few days later after she was taken to
an animal shelter. Antibiotics failed to stop the swelling from the burns.

Police were notified of the injuries
when a friend of Ellis took
the dog to the animal shelter and told authorities what had happened.

Ellis entered his plea on Wednesday, August 2nd
in Criminal District Court No. 4 in Fort Worth. The District Prosecutor stated that Ellis is scheduled to be sentenced after a pre-sentence
investigation is complete in about 4-6 weeks. Ellis faces
a maximum of 2 years in jail and a $4,000 fine on the animal cruelty charge.

Ellis remains in the Tarrant County Jail with bond
set at $2,500 on the animal cruelty charge. He is being held without bail
on other charges. He has also pleaded guilty to four counts of burglary of
a building and two counts of theft of $1,500 and $20,000. Those crimes occurred
last summer in Euless and Grapevine. He faces a maximum of two years in jail on each
charge.

Update January
17, 2007:

Ellis was sentenced to 1 year in prison for animal
cruelty. Ellis was also sentenced on unrelated charges to
5 years’ probation on each of 3 counts of burglary of a building and on 2
counts of theft of $1,500-$20,000.